Ukraine's Pivdennyi port has suspended operations as Russia does not allow ships to enter the port despite the grain deal.
Source. This was reported by Reuters with reference to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
"The "grain deal", extended last week for two months, provides for the export of grain from three Ukrainian ports – Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi.
The United Nations, which mediated the deal, expressed concern on Monday that no vessels have called at Pivdennyi port since May 2 via the grain corridor, Reuters reports.
"Formally, the Pivdennyi port is included in the operation, but in fact it has not been for a month. No ships have been entering it," said Deputy Infrastructure Minister Yuriy Vaskov.
According to him, Russia has found an effective way to significantly reduce Ukrainian grain exports by actually excluding the port that accepts large-tonnage vessels from the agreement.
Under the agreement, all vessels heading to Ukrainian ports are inspected by a group of Russian inspectors. However, since April 29, the Russians have refused to inspect ships going to Pivdennyi, Vaskov said.
Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of trying to block the inspection of ships. Moscow has denied these accusations, but has emphasized that it is also dissatisfied with the way the agreement is currently working.
Background. Read more about this in Mind's article "Since May 9, no ship carrying Ukrainian agricultural products has been able to pass inspection in Istanbul. What options do exporters have?"